Acoustic device



Sept, 28 1926. 1,60H,063

H. A. FREDERICK AGOUSTICDEVICE Filed May 19, 1924 Patented Sept. 28, 1926.

UNlTED STATE S PATENT OFFICE.

TTALSEY A. FREDERICK, OF MOUNTAIN LAKES, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y-, A CORPORATION 01' NEW YORK.

Application filed May 19,

This invention relates to acoustic devices [1d particularly to telephone receivers.

An object of the invention'is to provide an efiicient and economical earphone which may be comfortably retained in the ear of the user without the aid of external support. The invention is adapted for use as an auricular telephone for the aid of the hard of hearing, and may also be used to advantage as a telephone operators receiver, as well as for many other purposes.

According to a feature of the invention, a miniature telephone receiver and an earpiece or mounting member are assembled III a compact, unitary structure, the mounting member being molded to conform to the contour of the meatus of the individual user.

This construction requires no headband or other external support and hence renders the receiver very inconspicuous. This construction, furthermore, affords an efiicient' acoustic coupling and, because of its light weight and the absence of undue pressure upon the ear, adds materially to the comfort of the user. By molding the mounting member to fit the ear of the individual user the earphone is firmly held in place and affords substantially the same efliclent coupling in different individuals.

Because of the close fit between the mounting member and the ear of the user, this carphone reduces to a minimum the sound which" escapes around the mounting memher, a factor which is of considerable importance in situations where sound given ofi' by the receiver might prove a source of considerable annoyance to other persons in the vicinity.

The various features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which,

Fig. 1 is a view partially in section illustrating the invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustratlng the manner in which the device is applied to the ear.

As shown in Fig. 1, the compact earphone comprises. a mounting member or earpiece 5 and a miniature telephone receiver which may be of any suitable construction.

The receiver may, for example, be of the electromagnet type disclosed in the patent application of Warren G. Jones, Serial N o.

ACOUSTIC ionvlcn.

1924- Serial No. 714,477.

714,476, filed May 19, 1924. This receiver comprises a cylindrical case 6 having a com tral pole piece 7, carrying an electromagnet coil 8, and a diaphragm 9 which is clamped to the case 6 by means of a threaded cap 10. The usual sound passage 11 is provided in the face of the cap 10, adjacent the dia I suitable plastic material, and is preferably colored to resemble the flesh of the user. The mounting member 5 is molded to con form to the contour of the meatus or con spicuous outer chamber of the ear of the individual user. A sound canal 15 is formed to extend through the mounting member,

terminating at one end in the extension or protuberance 16 which is adapted to register with and if desired to extend into the audi' tory duct of-the ear.

'The receiver cap 10 is assembled in the mounting member 5 in any suitable manner. The cap may be aflixed to the mounting member adhesively or by means of supportlng pins or may be embedded therein during the molding process. In the construction shown in the drawing the receiver cap is embedded in the mounting member during the molding process, the molding material being pressed firmly over the flanges 14 in order to insure a firm bond between the mounting member and receiver cap. In molding, the cap 10 is so positioned in the mounting member 5 that the sound passage- 11 registers with the canal 15 in order to insure the free transmission of sound vibrations from the diaphragm 9 to the audi tory duct of the ear. The molding material completely covers the receiver cap 10 and conceals it from view, leaving only the small cylindrical case 6 exposed.

The compact earphone described above may be readily adjusted in the meatus of theear to present a neat and pleasing ap-.

pearance, as shown in Fig.8. 'The exposed I portion of the mounting member 5 is suitably ronnded off to conform to the outer ridges of the ear. By molding the earpiece 5 to fit the ear of the individual user, the device may be snugly and firmlyadjusted in place, thus assuring an eificient acoustic coupling and at the same time effectively securing the device against accidental displacement. The light weight of this earphone and the absence of any undue pressure on the ear add materially to the comfort of the user. Due to the fact that the mounting is molded to fit the individual ear, the weight is well distributed over the surface of contact so that there are no points of excessive pressure on any portions of the ear.

The invention set forth herein is, of

course, susceptible of various modifications and adaptations, and accordingly the invention is not to be considered as limited except as defined by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 4

1. In an earphone, a mounting member conforming substantially to the meatus of the ear, and a telephone receiver embedded in said mounting member.

2. In an earphone, a mounting member molded to conform to the meatus of the ear, a sound canal extending through said mounting member and terminating at one end in an extension adapted to be inserted in the auditory duct of the ear, and a telephone receiver molded in said mounting member adjacent the other end of said canal.

3. In combination, a small, light weight telephone receiver, and a mounting member therefor molded to the ear of the individual user to fill a substantial part of the outer ear and to. distribute the weight substantially uniformly over the major portion of the surface of contact with the ear.

'4. A telephone receiver and a mounting forming the sole support for said receiver said mounting being molded to fit the interior of the outer ear of the individual user and being of such dimensions that when in place in the ear, it is contained entirely Within the outermost limits of the auditory passage into the ear.

In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my. name this 19th day of May, A. D., 1924.

HALSEY A. FREDERICK. 

